Wing of aircraft



March 10, 1931. y A. RoHRBAcH 1,795,910. WING, oF AIRCRAFT Filed April 2. L92? rfl7t vE i ic'b e] [YN iran@ 12m-smic!'Maa-. 10,- 1931 UNI/'ran .js`TATEs-- o-FFICE f t .wenn non'anncn', or 'BERLIN-wmaneiaonr, Enum,.nss1 c1von 'ro` aonnaen rams coBrom'rIoN, A- conro 'non or DELAWARE wine" or lArzneim-rar i f .Application le'd Apr`i1.2,,1927, Serial lio.

i rlhe ever `increasing development of metal-l i' aircraft construction calls for special consideration of the metalsinherent properties. It is a well known fact that aluminum alloys,

'5 specially favoured by modern aircraft constructfors, will, to a certain extent, be impaired by the effects of corrosion, and particularly so in the case of seaplanes and {lying-boats,

In order to efficiently protect the metal .30 against .'such destructive influence, a special varnish is applied and a strict eye kept thereupon, s'o that reparations or replacements-can be vtaken in hand in due time. lhe' roomy fuselage of the machine, which l5 may be walked. upon with perfect ease and safety, offers not the slightest difficulty to fing that only easily accessible open sections;= 2 or profiles are used. AIn contradistinction vsuch methods of maintenance, n or d o the de' tail partsjof the remainingstructure, provid- Vhereto the upkeep of the twingstructure is a 4somewhat puzzling problem,v inasmuchA as the vwings are of small height, cannot, ordinarily be walked upon and, .with their considerably 5 tapered trailing-edges, prevent easy access to wsign, characterize by the Wing being'sub their interior.

The absolutely necessary most careful inspection ofy every point ofl the structure, can. however,`not be obtained by-'a proposed del divided lintoa nu Hber ofboxes arranged in a line in the direction of flight,"said boxes forming girders of equal bending strength and transmitting their part of the total stress either to the wing-base or the fuselage proper.- In order to prevent unequal bending of the individual boxes, a .screw or rivet joint must be provided between them so as to'be not easily severed. vThe complete dismounting of the individual much projecting boxes wouldoffer great vdiiiiculty, and every one lof them is so small, that detaching one would notsuiiice to ensure accessibility of the remaining. This means that in case'of close examination and overhaullng of' the entire wing interior, the

dismantled. The following form of wing construction veryelif'ectively avoids the above described y whole wing .would have to be detached and has drawbacks: central supporting girder pro-l messa, 'and al Germany ps1-19,19.

viding detachable or hingeable leadingorL trailingl edges, said-'edges being subdividedy into independent units occupying only part of the wing length. Turning up ordown of said parts or .units will lay pen a section of thewin'g-edge of suicient size to allow of easy working within the now accessible portion oftheA inner wing structure. The accessibility ofthe edge-parts,l however, is in general all that can bel desired, the

interior structure being open towards, three sides with one unit turned down, towards two sides with one unit remaining independent and in position. In practice overhauling vis effected by the worlnnanturning back the edge portion to be supported by the topjor advantage with regard to` the tapered trailing edge, in as 4much as its interior shall bottom side of' the main girder, but he can .smaller depth. .This design proves f special thereby-be made accessible enough, to allow of working at the angles and small sections without any diiiicult l When examined rom the standpoint of practical construction thisl new deslgn will turnout well, allowing to produce the tapered edge-pieces with their compact structure as4 independent units, special `consideration beingpaid to their constructional properties, and arranging them so as to be etachable from the parts .at the main girder, which,`

being more roomy, are separately built with a resulting saving of time and expense.

Another useful feature of the present 4iinvention vis that it can be made to serve for the accommodation .of loads, within the wingwp'rper. The liquid fuel for instance,

edge parts, whereas the trailing redge boxes en so far carried either in, the main wing portion or in one of the hinged leading.

I could not be used for the said purpose because of their small structural height and tapered form. It is, however, most desirable to arrange part of the load on hand aft of the wing girder, in order to avoid the tendency to nose heaviness, a tendency specially shown by machines with power plant arranged in front.

. In this connection the invention presents a most convenient solution, allowing, by division of the trailing edge parts into two independent units, to design the more roomy, somewhat box-shaped front-piece as a fueltank, to which the rear piece is attached in the usual way, forming the extreme trailing edge part. f

' The invention can further be used in connection with the twisting of the wing. rlhe method is put into practice .by using, instead.

of a large aileron directly hinged to the wing main girder, a small control member of better streamline properties, to be indirectly joined to the main girder by inserting detachable edge pieces. This arrangement results in another saving of time and expense, as the unequallv sized edge-pieces can be separately manufactured. p

In certain cases it will be desirable to confine the sub-division according to the present invention to .the edge pieces at the wing base and vwing tip and to-leave the intermediate edge-pieces as independent units, either rigidly or detachably connected with the main girder. i

The invention can be applied `to the leading edge parts as well, sub-dividing them and making use of the different parts for variousends. It is, for instance, possible to design the part adjacent to the wing as fuel-tank and v.the other part as radiator for the power plant. It seems rather improbable that the wing-tip parts should be used to accommodate fuel tanks; here instruments, apparatus'- and vso on could be stowed away inthe edge pieces' arranged separately of the main girder. It is of course possible, according to the invention, to use the trailing part of the sub-divided rear edge-for some special purposes. Y

. The accompanying drawings show, by wayA of example, several embodiments ofthe present invention. Figs. l and represent planviews of two different wings, the-'construc-A tion of which is set forth more particularly in sectional views Figs. 2-4 and 6-8 along the lines A-B, Cf-D, E-F, Gr--II,V J-K Referring to these drawings the aircraft wing consists of a hollow box girder b', either directly joined to the fuselage a or uninter- .ruptedly connected with an opposite wing,l

girder ZJ. lA certain number ofthose edge pieces being sub-divided in the direction of flight, and forming part sections of the rei.

lresponding to the combined lengths of the tanksre. vBy relatively shifting or staggering the dividing-'joints el, f2 aA certain additional stiffness of the whole ledge-structure c, e, f, f1 is attained, as for example sothat` as indicated the edge part f projects beyond the oint e and is attached to both the parts e, e. rl`he several parts are connected to each other in the fore and aft direction by the connecting parts n which may be Hinges or other suitable detachable connections. The rigidity may be still further increased by connecting the members e, e, f, 7 to each other in wing span direction by the detachably connected cross pieces 'v which ,bridge the separating joints e, f. These connections o may be of any suitable character, as for example turnable scarfsor pivotal latch members bridging the joints. Preferably similar connections o are also provided between the part 7L -and e, f and between z' and e, f.

h, z', y' are one-pieced edge-parts of unequal length, arranged in wing-span direction, and extending from the rear longitudi-l nal edge cl to the trailing edge of the wing. The parts are arranged so as to be detachable, as shown in the accompanying drawing. It 1s, of course, possible to makethem i in one piece with the girder b, which arrangement could be adopted, if their eXtension in wing span direction is but rather `which, for instance, could be used as floating bodies in case of einer ency.

Simple hinges n (Fig. 3) may be usedas connecting members for the girder b and the sub-divided and solid edge-pieces, if it seems desirable to turn the edge-pieces or their part sections up and downv on their hinges. If. one is satisfied with .simply pulling down the edge-pieces or their part-sections, it would be suitable to partly replace theouter hinges n by inner slip-in-joints 0 (Figs. 2, 4).

I 50 from its plane of connection.

the character set 10 leading edge parts can be sub-dividedl in the tion to the fuel tank g, a circulation radiator "15 7- for the power plant (Figs. 5, 6). .It may 5 also be desirable, to arrange, Within the endpiece of an edge section special instruments Y or apparatlis, a search-light s, for instance.

j All 'the above cases represent the advantage, that the part-sections with their -different structure canbe manufactured either in particular departments of the workshop or ob.- -tained asindpendent and separate parts.

It does not bear upon the nature of the present inventiony whether the Wing be. of cantilever type or b van whether the above indicated alloys be use 'as buildin material or not. The Wing Y may be sub-divlded into twqor'more parts,

cumstancies. Y What llclaimg'is:` 4 1. A11 laircraft Wing including .a girder structure which eXtendsin the direction of 36 .thawing span and serves as the main Wingl base, fixed edge parts attached to the fore and aft edgesof the'wing girder to complete the Wing section, and directly supported-by the Wing girder` proper, said vedge 'parts beingbf relatively short length in the direction of the Wingv span and being .separately attachable to and detachable from the Wing-4 girder transversely lto the directioniiof the Wing vspan to WhichI girder they. transmit their forces, atleast one of, said-edge parts trailing edge into parts located one.

divided part having an interior accessible aireraftwingof forth in claim `1 in which the portionof the {sub-divided edge part'adjacent tothe' wing l girder serves as asupport `for 'the'other co1"- l 55 responding sub-divided part thereof, -said l `\other part being detachably joined or'- hingedf body. f

with its su porting P 'g'embodyingfa girder 3. An aircraft structure whichextends in the.' direction of v l6(55'thewving'span and 'servesvas the main supporting base ior the 'wing, special metal'fore -1 and aft edge parts directly carried byisaid girder structure adjacent the Wingrot and the tip thereof land adapted -to complete the 55.- vxed profile of. the supporting surface, said same mannervl as `the trailing edge parts.4 Said arrangement being. recommendable, if

some edge-piece shall accommodate, in addlraced against the fuselage,

in the direction of Hight, according to cir-r bei? subdivided in the direction of Hight special edge parts beingof 'relatively .short length in the longitudinal direction of the' W'mg and being individually detachably or ,hmgedlv connected to the girder transversely to the direction of the wing-span, the Acon- `nection being adapted to transmit the air forces upon the edge parts to the main girder, certain of the edge parts being also sub-dif vided in the fore Aand aftdirection into individual parts located one behind the other in the direction of Hight, the individual part of each Vsub-divided edge part adjacent to the girder serving as asupporting body for theother individual portion or portions, lsaid. latter having their interiors accessiblev from the connection planes and being detachably or hingedlymconnected With 'the supporting t body.

' 4. An aircraft Wing embodying a girder structure Which'extends in the direction off@i the Wing span and serves as the main VWing supporting base, said Wing including special edge parts carried by the main girder for completing the profile of the supporting surface, said edge parts. being relatively short if in the direction of the Wingspan and being separa" elydetacha'ble orbinged to the main wing girder `so that the forces thereupon are transmitted to the girder, adjacent edge parts being subdivided in 'a foreand aft g5' direction into individual .partslocated one v behind the other in the direction of Hight, the individual parts adjacent the main wing girder ,diiering in 7)length in the directionof' the wing spanfrom the adjacent sub- [do divided parts, the latter 7being supported by 'theformen .5. Anaircraft wing comprising a girder structure egtending in the directmn of -the -wing 4span and serving asja main'wing'sup- 'ma '.portin base, at least aft edge parts directly carrie bythe girderand servingto complete the. fixed profile ofthe supporting surace, 'said edge arts bein .of metal and of of thejwing span, certain of these edge parts being' nformed as 'specialidetachablejmembers supporte 'by the main wing girder, and at least one said aft edge parts comprising individual parts located one Abehind .the 3 other in the direction oi. Hight, one of these parts, which is detachably or hingedly j dined' .toand supported bythe main wing girder' being formed as a` fuel tank and supporting 1 the other sub-dividedfpasrt, 'said latter ha'ving its interior accessible from `its-planev of connection. Y Y, fp. yf-f 6. An aircraft Wingof the`character`\'set forth in claimv 14: wherein the fore andA aft; f

.subdivided ed'ge par# which 'is joineaftashe-l'gy' .mainfwing girderifsrprovidedwith vpartition Walls formingthewallso a Vfuel tank. 7. An aircraftwving -comprisin' a girderk structure' extending in. the direction" of the vving span and serving as .themainwing 1w supporting base, readily attachable and detachable edge parts carried by said wing girder and completing the profile of the supporting surface, said edge parts being of comparatively short length in the direction of the wing span, certain of said parts being Vwherein the edge partsA supporting the aileron are formed as oatable bodies.

9. An aircraft wing of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the subdivided part carried by the part adjacent the main wing girder is adapted to accommodate utensils, instruments and other accessories, and is provided with a covering, by which latter the effect of the accessories is rendered outwards.

10. An aircraft wing of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the subdivided part part which is carried by the part adjacent' the main wing girder is formed to aecommodate independently utensils, instruments and other accessory apparatus and is detachable connected or hinged to the supporting subdivided part, said accommodating A body having a covering which makes it' possible to render outwards the effect of the accessories.

11. An aircraft wing comprising a main central box-like girder servingas the main wing supporting base, fore and aft trailing and leading edge parts carried by the girder and completing the profile of these supporting surfaces, said edge parts being detachably joined or hinged to the girder and being sub-divided into short lengths in the direction of wingA span, at least one' of the front edge parts being formed as a fuel tank, one of the rear edge partsbeing sub-divided in a fore and aft direction into two parts located one behind/"the other in the direction of flight, the sub-divided part adjacent the main wing girder being formed as a fuel tank and'serving asa support ,for the other sub-divided part, the rear edge parts adjacent the wing tip being of comparatively y short length in the direction of flight, said parts together supporting an aileron which forms its rear terminalpart..

12. An aircraft wing comprislng a main v central metal girder of box-like form, said central part including transverse walls arranged at intervals in the direction of the wings span, metal edge rparts carried by said girder 0n one edge thereof, said edge parts being detachably joined or hinged to the girder and being of comparatively short length in the direction of the wing span, their end surfaces being .flush with the cross walls of the girder, at least one of these edge parts being sub-divided in a fore and aft direction into individual parts located one behind the other in the direction of flight, the sub-divided part which is adjacent the girder carrying the other, this latter being detachably or hingedlv joined to the former, the sub-divided part adjacent the girder being provided with a lw'all or walls at the connection-planes, said walls making it liquid-proof.

13. An aircraft wing of the character set forth' inclaim 2, wherein the wing main girder from its base toits tipA is formed as a substantially straight uninterrupted central wing portion, its full section being completed by the fore and aft edges, the wing edge part between the root and the tip being also of metal and sub-divided into small edge parts which are separately detachably .or hingedly attached to the niain girder,

to which they transmit their forces, the said small edge parts having their interior accessible from the connecting planes.

14. An aircraft wing comprising -a main central box-like girder serving as the main wing supporting base, fore and aft trailingy and leading metal edge parts carried by the girder and Acompleting the profile of the supporting surfaces, said edge parts being detachably joined or hinged to the girder and being ,sub-divided into short lengths in the direction of wing span, at least one of the front edge parts being formed asa fuel tank said tank being situated ,laterally of the fuselage at the wing root, one of the rear edge parts situated at the wing root and interior accessible Vfrom the connection\ planes, and are detachably or hingedly joined to their supporting body;

j 16.` An aircraft wing of the character set forth in claim 4, wherein the edge parts subdivided in the fore and aft direction into individual parts are situated between edge-portions not farther sub-divided in the direction of Hight, means at the 'edgeparts for connecting or adjusting, adapted to reinforce the individual parts, holding their top and bottom surfaces in the wing surface.

17. Aircraft having a fuselage, metal wings extending laterally of the vertical fuselage projection, each wing comprising a boxshaped girder lying in the direction of the wing span and serving as wing main member,

- supporting sur ace, saidedge parts bein of L readily attachable and detachable Yedge parts the leading edge parts located at -the wing root y, which vare directly supported b'y the said'wing 'laterally of the fuselage being likewise girder and com lete the fixed section of the relatively short' length in the direction o the Wingspan, certainof the `aft edge parts situated laterally of vthe fuselage comprising special parts following 'after one another in the direction' offlight, at .least one special part being located at the wing root laterally olf the fusela e and adjacent to the wing main I girder and etachably orlhingedly joined to the latter and forming a fuel tank the other 'corresponding special part having its interior accessible at the connection 'planes and being supported by the first-mentioned special part.` 18. An aircraft of the character set forth inv claim 17, wherein the 'box-shaped main girder is provided with readily attachable or hinged leading and trailing e ge portions o:t

wing span, certain of such leading edge parts situated at the wing root laterally of the fuselaglsbeing provided with walls forming fuel ta f formed as a fuel tank.

ADO

relativelylshort length in the direction of the 19)..A structure of the character set 'forth comprising edge parts adapted to be attached to one edge of an aircraft wing forming the base, of an aircraft wing,in order to completethe fixed wing section, and including at least two hollow liquid-proof members located side` by side in thewings an direction and directlyy and readily det'ac ably or hingedl joined with the wing girder and supporte by the latter, said hol ow members supporting, at their side remote from the g',irde}` individual edge parts, the latter being detachably or hingedly connected with the hollow memi bers, sald hollow members in the' direction of the wing span being of a different length than the liqu1d-proof hollow members and having their interior accessible lfrom the connection planes. t 2,0, An metal wings, each wing comprising a hollow laircraft having a fuselageiandf box-shaped girder extending in the direction of the wing span INand serving as the Wlng l base, readilyattachable and detachable leading and trailing edge parts'directly supported by said wing girder land completing the wing section, saidi edge portions-forming in thedirection ofthe Wingspan relatively/short part memberslarranged side by sidepverthe '1 entire length of the wing, certainV edge parts situated at the wing root laterally Vof the fuse` f lage and near the win tip comprising special parts following one a ter another inthe direction'of flight,- severalof the special parte v adjacent to the girder near the wing tip carrying anaileron, at least'one special part-situ-v ated -at fthe wing root vand adjacent"to ,the

' A girder' being formed as fuel tank andj carrying another special4 art which vis readily-de? tachably or\ hing y/ connected with; the i -first mentioned special part, at least/one'ofpf.

In testimony whereo name to this specification.

CERTIFICATE op. ooRREo'rloN.

Patent No. 1,795,970. Granted March 10, 1931, to

ADOLF ROHRBACH.

It. is herebyv certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 45, claim l. after the'word partsf insert the words of the trailing edge, and line 47, strike out the words "of the trailing edge"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record lof the case in the Patent Office. 'l

4Signed and sealed this 31st day of March, A.,D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal).v in :tingf Commissioner of Patents. 

